Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-27

the resolution. Such was the union Of
the Unionists. Laughter and cheers.
Lord Hartington's support of the Gov
eminent was certainly not Of the most
cordial character. His concluding ar
eument was weak because the execu-
tive act would have actually persisted
unless it had parliamental approval.
Cheers The Government allowed .
verdict Of not guilty TO be entered in
several clauses Of the indictment
against the league, for they did not
dare to proclaim it as an association
for the promotion Of crime or inter-
fering with the maintenance of law and
order. He would not extenuate or
sIologize for intimidation, but il that
was all the Government desired to pre-
vent they could have attained
that object by adopting the advice
OF their Unionlst friends and putting
in force the combination clauses Of
the crimes bill. The reason they had
not taken that course was because they
would have been compelled to produce
evidence which would satisfy the conn
uy that intimidation prevailed in Ire
IoDd. and they were unable to produce
such evidence. But the men they wished
to suppress were not intimidators butre-
strainers of intimidation. Irish cheers. ]
The Government wanted to strike the
league because it was announcement to
them, adverse to their political opin-
ions and to the pecuniary interests Of
the class they represented, and it was
Characteristic OF them that the first
person struck was an Irish member OF
Parliament and an editor OF sn Irish
newspaper. The only specific cases
which had been adduced TO justify the
proclamation had been specifically dis
proved. The country would appreciate
the unfeirness of their conduct and its
object
Sir William ridiculed the Ministry's
penny.a-hne evidence, and complained
that their conduct in quoting from I'M
tabled documents was q scandalous en-
deayor to blast the reputation and sus-
pend the liberties of the whole people
upon evidence that would not he re-
ceiyed against the meanest criminal.
He doubted whether the country would
gee twenty months OF this "resolute !"
Government with .irresolute Govern
ment allies.
Mr.. Goschen observed that Sir Will
liam had been elected to hold brief
for the league. Continuing, he said
that the Government were fully con-
scious OF the responsibility. The diff
fculty of their task was increased by
the persistent opposition of those who
had themselves held high Office, and
WHO under similar circumstances were
supported by the Conservatives. Sir
William affected to treat with contempt
the evidence written by the official
chroniclers Of the leagues proceedings.
[Cheers.
Mr.. Goschen argued that the league
was an outcome of the growth of the
land league which the Liberals had
proclaimed. Its system was acknow-
lodged in its earliest days as likely to
supersede the necessity of overt acts of
outrage, and now the absence of out
rage vas pointed out as the ground for
refusing to sanction the proclamation.
Here was nothing in any country OF
The world that could equal this fearful
system of espionage carried on under
the auspices Of the league.
Ut. Dillon l utterly deny that q
system of espionage is carried on by
TIE league. Irish cheers
Mr.. Goschen Then / should like to
know how everything happened to be
brought to the knowledge OF local
branches of the league. Ample evil
dence has proved the existence of q
system for infcting material ruin and
moral death on many individuals. 1t is
not surprising that the Government is
unable to trace the connection Of the
league with outrages, when large bodies
are able to commit outrages and
leave no clue to their identity.
THERE'S strong ground to suspect that
powerful organization is behind.
1Clies of "OE !" and cheers Is it
because the leagues punishment is
more severe than that OF law that law
has no terror for the people? The
Government must strike at the courts
rather than at the tools and instru-
ments that execute their devices. 1t
was not the Government but the league
that invented new crimes. Under its
code friendliness, mercy, forgiveness,
and all Christian virtues are crimes.
Mr.. Eealy, who ended the debate,
counselled the Irish people to have
confidence in the good intentions OF the
English people and to wait patiently,
abstaining from violence.
Mr.. Gladstone's resolution was then
defeated, by vote Of 273 to 1874.
1t was stated tonight that the Govern
ment intended to propose on Monday a
modification of the cloturc rule, with a
view to expediting the passage of the
supply bill.